Monday, November 19, 2012

YOUTH OF THE BEAST (Japanese) (1963)

My third Seijun Suzuki film is
his signature masterwork. Infact Suzuki once remarked that this was one of his
first truly original pictures. It begins with ambiguous case of double suicide.
A stranger violent beast infiltrates with two rival yakuza gangs and messing
one against the other. The man is on mission and he’s wildest badass in form of
Suzuki’s frequent collaborator Jo Shishido. It’s not exaggeration to say he’s
what Belmondo in Godard films.

The film is so contemporary to
French New wave cinema and Suzuki’s auteur to watch as far as form is concerned.
Perhaps Suzuki is lesser popular filmmaker to his other contemporaries of Japanese
cinema but one has to watch his signature use of flamboyant colors, striking
framing and lighting in his films. It serves stylish visuals, slick editing and
upbeat production design too. The hybrid pop score with glimpse of his
irreverent humor still gives it contemporary feel to its viewers. An ugly
underbelly of drug and call girl cartel, sadist mobster and downbeat ending
gives it absolutely noir touch.

About Me

Born in 1977 and professionally lecturer,I love to explore life in all its intricacies around me. Reading-imagining-thinking, watching/analysing films, listening music are more than passion- obsession and compulsion for me to survive like air, water and food. Only like minded ones can understand some of my lunatic passion while reading this blog.I also love to meet people, hanging out different places, observe people while trying to adjust the struggling identities of being animal and human.